Movable arm rest



1 7. m 1" N m F Im Aug. 28, 1928.

MOVABLE ARM REST Filed May 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' 7 a w YW A/ INVENTOR.

.JUHN FINN BY GkMDMM A TTORNEY Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,071

J. FINN MOVABLE ARM REST Filed May 9; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

IJDHN FINN By E.\\ J\.LMP

R ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN FINN, OF MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.

MOVABLE ARM REST.

Application filed May 9, 1927. Serial No. 189,935.

This invention relates to an arm rest and has particular reference to an arm rest for use in motor vehicles and the like places.

The principal object of this invention is to produce a movable arm rest which may be adjusted so as to suit the requirements of the user.

A further object is to produce an arm rest wherein the weight of the body of the user serves to prevent the arm rest from moving relative to the user.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is economical to manufacture and one which is neat in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure I is a cross-section of an automobile seat having my invention applied thereto,

Figure II is a top plan View of my preferred form of arm rest,

Figure III is a modified form showing the employment of two arm rests,

Figure IV is a perspective view of my arm rest as the same will appear when positioned upon a seat,

Figure V is a cross-sectional view showing the manner in which my arm rest may be moved to accommodate either a small or large person, and

Figure VI is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle involved in my invention.

At the present time the seats of autom0- biles are in the form of armless chairs or one continuous seat cushion, with the result that a person sitting upon one side of the motor vehicle can rest but one arm upon the win dow while the opposite arm has to be held in the persons lap or braced out against the seat.

It frequently happens that in rounding a curve, if any speed is being maintained the person is liable to be thrown toward the outside of the curve and assuming that the person is sitting upon the side of the car toward the inside of the curve, it is necessary for the person to brace himself'or he will be thrown over. This is uncomfortable and very annoying, particularly to a person sitting in the rear seat of the motor vehicle.

I have therefore provided a movable arm rest which may be placed upon the automobile seat and held there in such a manner that the user may employ the arm rest with a sense of security, as if the arm rest were permanently secured to the motor vehicle. This is accomplished by providing a strip of fabric which is secured to the top and bottom of a block in such a manner that the block is held against tipping and by placing the fabric strip so that the weight of the user is placed upon it, the block is securely held in position so as to act as an arm rest, and at the same time is held against movement.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the seat cushion of a motor vehicle, the numeral 6 the seat upholstory, the numeral 7 the window sill adjacent the window 8. This construction is common in all motor vehicles and forms no part of my invention.

My invention consists in the employment of an arm rest having a block 9 which has padding 11 thereon if desired. Secured to the block 9 is a fabric 12 which passes around the block and is securely fastened thereto in any convenient manner. This fabric has a seat portion 13 of sufficient length to extend beneath the use-r and to a point slightly beyond. This permits the user to grasp the end with one hand, while adjusting the seat portion beneath himself. The opposite end of the fabric is secured to the seat portion 13 by being carried upwardly as indicated at 14 and securedby stitching or in any other convenient manner.

This manner of joining the two portions of the fabric together causes the point of oining to be approximately mid-way of the height of the block. The arm rest as a whole is designated by the letter B.

In the modified form shown in Figure II, the construction is identical with the exception that the device is provided with two rests as shown at Cand D.

I prefer to form integral with the seat portion a tab 16 which is adapted to fold down over the front of the seat thereby acting as a seat protector should the upholstery of the car be soiled.

. In Figure V, I have shown in full and dotted lines, two positions of the arm rest. This illustrates the fact that the rest may be moved toward or away from the side of the car so as to accommodate a thin person or a stout person.

In Figure VI I have illustrated the principle of my invention wherein the arm rest is designated by the rectangle E and the weight of the user is designated by the rectangle F.

It is therefore apparent that if pressure is brought against the rectangle E as indicated by either the arrows G or H, the effect would be to tip the rectangle toward the right of the drawing. As soon as any tipping action occurs the same is arrested by the fabric designated by the line I, this fabric being secured to the top of the rectangle and passing beneath the weight F, it will therefore be impossible for either of the forces G or H to raise J the weight which is opposing these forces.

' The line J represents the portion 14 of the fabric. This ortion prevents the bottom of the rectanglefiom moving toward the right of the drawing as would occur were the fabric secured only to the top of the rectangle.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a movable arm rest which to all intents and purposes becomes an immovable arm rest when in use.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a movable arm rest for use in combination with a'seat, a block adapted to rest upon the seat, a fabric strip secured to said block adjacent the upper and lower extremities thereof and extending to one side of said block.

2. In an arm rest, a strip of fabric comprising a seat portion and a block engaging portion, a block secured within said block engaging port-ion in such a manner as to be surrounded thereby, the junction of said seat engaging portion-and said block engaging portion being approximately mid-way of the height of said block, and spaced therefrom.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' JOHN FINN. 

